RESEARCH -
The small molecules produced by plants and microorganisms have long been a source of human therapeutics. Many small molecules achieve potent and selective biological activity through their precise presentation of functional groups along a carbon scaffold. While this complexity may be important for activity, it presents a challenge for efficient chemical synthesis. Our target selection is driven by dense carbocyclic frameworks that support equally congested functional group arrays. Architectures such as these have long inspired innovative solutions to their efficient chemical synthesis, and our total syntheses of serratezomine A and hapalindoles K, A, and G are no exception. Peruse the new chemical methods pages for a preview of tools that will enable our next natural product total synthesis.